“With this you can write your stuff.”

“Thank you so much, but,... what do you mean?” Lester asked blushing.

“Do you think I haven't noticed? You like to write who knows what crazy stuff in your notebook instead of listening to the teacher in class, no wonder your grades are so mediocre.”

“What do you write so much, dear Lester?” Benxamin asked curiously.

“No, no, it's pure nonsense.”

“It's ok. You can tell us whenever you want,” Benxamin said with a smile.

Lester tried to share his stories with them much earlier, but felt that it was too childish of him. However, as he was presented with this opportunity through Victor's gift, he didn't let it pass this time.

“I'll show you what I've been writing when we get home, but I won't because you or Benxamin ask me to. I wanted you guys to read it anyway. It's nothing special though... ”

“For us it is, friend,” Victor said, smiling without looking away.

Benxamin felt a little jealous, but he was aware that he distanced himself from them for a while, with the good intention of making them good friends.

When they arrived, Mira was resting in her bedroom, while James was preparing dinner.

“How is your mother?” asked Benxamin.

“I hope she is better soon. The doctor told her to travel to warm places,” Lester replied.

Lester pulled out a large box from under his bed in which he kept several notebooks with everything he had written over the years. Benxamin read them carefully, amazed at how inventive his stories were, ranging from adventures in apocalyptic worlds, cosmic battles with demons and aliens, and even comedy scripts. Victor did the same, he asked Lester every little detail, every character and insisted on helping him improve his writing as he saw great potential in all of them.

He was so interested in everything Lester did, and at the same time, young Haydar seemed so excited to talk to him and listen to him, that Benxamin realized that if he had even had the slightest chance to be with Lester as his boyfriend, he wouldn't be like them. He was capable of understanding people's weaknesses, but over time, it didn't seem important to him to be interested in the tastes of others, even if it was something insignificant, as Victor was able to demonstrate through a simple gift such as a notebook.

Although Benxamin had a long relationship with a classmate, it was because the other person confessed his feelings to him and he accepted it as a chemistry experiment; he tried to love, respect and understand him, but it wasn't what he thought. They broke up because Benxamin felt that he wasn't someone with realistic aspirations. He was serious, focused on his goals,... ambitious, always ambitious and for some reason, he felt that Lester could have been the one for him.

Lester was innocent in love, but he was honest with his feelings. If he had said yes, he would have been his boyfriend out of obligation or pity, and not out of motivation or because he was interested in being with Benxamin. But, did his friend feel the same way about Victor?

He was so happy to share his biggest secrets and couldn't stop laughing at every irreverent comment Victor made.

“Thanks! You guys are great. I should have done this a long time ago. I hope we stay together,” Lester declared.

Victor got serious, he didn't want him to find out about his illegal work or that he planned to leave soon. All this, not even his brother knew.

Benxamin noticed his attitude instantly and decided to change the subject.

“I became a vegetarian.”

“That's good, but,... when Benxa? I didn't notice. Hahaha.” Lester said in surprise.

“It was a few months ago, but lately I'm doing it in a disciplined way. I recommend that you take into account your diet and that of your mother. This is more because I want to do something good with my life, we will be turning 18 very soon. That's all,” he said as he looked at Victor worried about his future. “I'm applying to several universities and with my grades I think I'll make it.”

“Congratulations, that's awesome. I guess you're going to be an artist.”

“I'm drawn to gore art.” affirmed Benxamin.

“I know, I know, your drawings and you also like photography.”

“That's why I want to be a forensic photographer.”

“You want to be what?!” Lester asked puzzled.

“Yes, but first I must study criminology, know about forensic medicine, ballistics and a long etcetera.”

The decisions that Benxamin was making about his future were shocking. He wanted to mix his tastes with much bigger ambitions, but what would he do after that?... Be president?

“Well, I hope you make it,” said Lester.

“I will, I'm Benxa after all.”

“And you, Lester, what do you want to do once you graduate?” asked Benxamin.

“I... ,” he thought and thought, but couldn't find the right words.  He wanted to be a filmmaker, but his parents warned him that he had to think realistically, “I'd like to be an engineer.”

“Okay, I thought you wanted to be a writer or something,” Victor said.

“No, no, I mean, it's for the best.”

“For whom?” Victor asked a little worried.

“And you?... What would you like to study?” interrupted Lester, evading the answer.

“I don't think so, college costs a lot of money. I guess I should look for a job and soon.”

“But,... don't you want to be an actor or a singer?!” Lester said. “I've seen you in that ice cream commercial, and in that other one of… ”

“Obviously I'm not going to give that up, but I have to be smart. I can't survive with low-paying jobs while looking for a place to live.” 

By accident, Victor confessed one of his secrets: a place to live.

“Are you leaving here?” Lester asked in amazement. “Please no, I can ask my parents if they let you live here. Why? Is it because of your guardians?”

“I didn't know that, brother.” Benxamin said confused.

“Well, very soon we will be adults. I've been saving up to go away and I'd like Benxamin to live with me.”

“I don't think so, I have my future here. It is your decision, not mine,” manifested his brother.

“Will you let him go just like that?” Lester asked.

Mira's bedroom was next to her son's and she listened to what the boys were saying. She knew that when Lester was alone he would cry, that he would feel unable to help his friends. But to her surprise, he calmed down and came up with an immature idea, a little crazy but sweet at the same time.

“W-would you like to go on a trip with us to the beach, guys? It will be at the end of this year. If this is the last time the three of us are together, it would be great if we enjoy it.”

“Mitä?!” (What?! in finnish) Victor asked ironically. “Ok, and who is going to pay for that trip? My brother or me? Your parents? Or you with your part-time job?”

“I think I could do it, if I look for another job.”  

“Hahaha, you are so innocent, dear,” Benxamin affirmed.

Lester looked at them with such seriousness despite being blushed that Victor understood his intentions and considered that the best thing for him was to think that there was a possibility. “Well,... we'll see what we can do.”

Benxamin couldn't believe his brother accepted Lester's proposal.

“You will not pay anything, my friends! I'll talk to my parents. I know it was selfish of me to ask this… ,” Lester said with exaggeratedly red cheeks.

Victor winked at his brother, hinting that he should accept Lester's wish, no matter how fanciful it seemed.

Before saying goodbye, Victor secretly talked to James in the kitchen about Lester's career aspirations and asked him to reconsider. Mr. Haydar, surprised, realized that the young Dautt showed an enormous interest in his son to the point of getting involved in his family's decisions. He said that he would talk to Mira about it.

They didn't notice, but Lester heard them the whole time when he went to see his mom. Every time Victor spoke, he felt his heart race and he thought he had a medical problem.

***

“I just want people to leave me alone, is that too much to ask? Please, I don't want to go on like this.”

“And… CUT!” said the Director.

The above was a dialogue that was part of a script in which Marcel was going to act as a child victim of bullying in a youth series; it would be his first leading role. He read his lines without any emotion for the character, his setmates were aware of his behavior not only because of the role but also because of his relationship with them. He did his job, he was a professional, but that was it. His mother, Eleanor, worked as if she were his adviser, his assistant, his legal representative or his boss, so that he felt supported.

Marcel was 18 years old, but he was about to repeat the school year, if so, his father Lucas seriously considered him giving up acting so he could graduate and enlist in the army against Eleanor's opposition.  The young man became more distant, cold and seemed like someone devoid of feelings. He spoke little in class but stopped bullying his classmates and devoted himself to his work as a model and actor. His mother secretly hoped that her son would have the success she always wanted, regardless of his school grades.

She was an actress since she was a child, but she dropped out before giving birth to Marcel and never had enough recognition to land leading roles. Eleanor worked hard so that her son was, according to her, a perfect young man. But at the same time, she had to put up with her drunken husband and his daughters, who despised her for being their father's “other”.  Marcel didn't care if his mother did this for his future or for her frustrated dreams, he put on a mask to try to show her that he would do anything she asked to distract himself from his lonely life. 

However, one day something happened...